Central Banks
Ukraine donates $49,000 of medical equipment to Ministry of Defence
Equipment goes to five military hospitals in the provinces; national bank announces voluntary liquidation of two commercial banks
Sato hits out at BoJ's negative rates
Board member warns negative rates in Japan may lead to tighter conditions and financial instability, as prime minister delays tax hike in face of deflation risk
Lautenschläger floats idea of two-tier capital regulation for eurozone banks
Capital positions for large eurozone banks could be split into "requirement" and "guidance" levels, Sabine Lautenschläger says
Trinidad and Tobago governor predicts GDP contraction of up to 2.5%
Contraction of 2.5% expected amid falling oil prices; co-ordinated fiscal, monetary and structural reforms would increase recovery's chance of success, Hilaire says
Slow growth need not be the ‘new normal’ – Richmond Fed paper
Authors give reasons for optimism about the future of US economic growth, and outline policies that could support it, although most are outside the control of the central bank
Esma criticises European Commission plans for regulating NFCs
“Significant drawbacks” present in European Commission’s proposed approach to regulating non-financial corporations’ derivatives transactions, European Securities and Markets Authority argues
Tiberius’s experiences with zero interest rates in 33 AD
Can the European Central Bank learn lessons from the use of zero interest rates by the Romans in 33 AD as they grappled with their own fiscal and monetary crisis?
Financial crises raise transmission of US spillovers to Latin America – paper
Central Bank of Colombia paper shows Brazil is a “net transmitter” of volatility; transmission of spillovers increases in times of political and financial uncertainty
Belize governor worried about threat posed by ‘de-risking’
Regulators not fully taking note of uncertainty around regulation implementation; Caribbean region growth and financial stability “threatened” by pullback of global banks, governor says
People: Butler to stay on permanently at UK bank regulator; Poloz gets new adviser
Megan Butler extends contract at Financial Conduct Authority, taking up a permanent role as head of supervision; Sheryl King appointed new adviser to the governor at the Bank of Canada; and more
Somalian central bank gains support from IMF and World Bank
Central Bank of Somalia is backed by international financial institutions in its efforts to upgrade its technical capacities, and improve supervision of its banks and money-transfer businesses
Structural funding ratios could have helped detect failing banks – BoE working paper
Bank of England working paper reveals structural funding ratios could have helped detect which banks were likely to fail in the 2008 crisis; wholesale funding structures most prone to failure
Bank of Italy puts archive of annual reports online
Central bank includes all annual reports dating back to 1895, giving insights into many periods of instability over the last century
IMF approves larger credit line to Mexico
Fund expands flexible credit line arrangement to $88 billion; confident Mexico's policies "will remain strong"
Eurobonds could be double-edged sword, researchers say
Banque de France researchers propose a new model of banks’ holdings of own-country sovereign debt; high holdings deter moral hazard but may exacerbate crises, they say
Afghanistan needs to use mobile money better, governor says
Mobile payments cut costs and risk, but take-up is hampered by lack of awareness, confidence and an “all-inclusive ecosystem”, says Sediq
Turkish central bank staff numbers plateau
Annual report shows many years of growth in staff numbers came to an end in 2015, though many roles are vacant
Ukraine closes three further banks, offers reassurances on another
Ukrainian central bank closes down three medium and small commercial banks, while attempting to calm fears over the country's largest bank
Central Bank of Argentina raises reserve requirements
Argentina raises reserve requirements as it continues to fight high inflation; bank will introduce inflation-targeting regime in September
Kohn encourages Chinese efforts on financial stability
Don Kohn, an external member of the Bank of England's FPC, welcomes Chinese work on a framework for macro-prudential regulation, and offers his insight on counterparts in the UK and US
Pursuing stable rates may create instability, Norges Bank paper finds
Preference among central bankers to keep rates at “normal” levels may prove time-inconsistent, researchers warn
Bank of Jamaica lowers inflation target
Jamaica's central bank continues move towards inflation-targeting regime; bank forecasts inflation to fall within new target band by the end of the fiscal year
Olsen wins second term at Norges Bank
Øystein Olsen reappointed for second and final term as Norges Bank governor, seeing off competition from six other applicants, including a former governor of the Central Bank of Iceland
EBA reveals guidelines for first stress tests on deposit guarantee schemes
European deposit guarantee schemes must carry out stress tests including checks on member banks’ customer data, response to stressed conditions and cross-border co-operation